PGDM Degrees Awarded to 230 students

Mysore/Mysuru: The 31st Annual Convocation of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDM-IMD) was held at the Institute’s campus at the foot of Chamundi Hill in Siddartha- nagar here yesterday.

Dr. Rajendra Srivastava, Novartis Professor of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation, Executive Director of the Centre for Business Innovation and Executive Fellow Programme in Management at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, was the chief guest.

In his insightful convocation address, he emphasised the importance of leadership, stating that it must be practiced and nurtured thoughtfully.

He noted that effective leaders think positively about the future, invest their time in solving meaningful problems and are always prepared to take calculated risks.

True leadership

Dr. Srivastava elaborated on the essence of true leadership, highlighting that great leaders continuously learn and empower others to grow.

Emphasising that leaders create more leaders, not followers, he illustrated his points through examples of successful brands and companies, discussing their growth trajectories, market presence, and influence.

He further underscored the importance of leveraging technology effectively and adopting strategic planning to achieve sustained success.

D. Surendrakumar, Vice-President and Member of the Governing Board of SDM-IMD, Mysuru, presided.

Addressing the graduates, he spoke about the realities of the modern world, noting that artificial intelligence is transforming industries and that geopolitical changes continue to shape global dynamics.

He highlighted how the business landscape is being reshaped by digital transformation, sustainability concerns, and evolving global markets.

 “Young India”

Encouraging the graduates, he said that the knowledge and skills acquired during their time at SDM-IMD would serve as a strong foundation. He reminded them that education is not the end of their journey but the beginning of lifelong learning.

Speaking about the aspirations of “Young India,” he emphasised the need for a dynamic youth force capable of driving grassroots transformation, challenging the status quo and contributing meaningfully to society. He noted that true success lies not only in personal achievement but also in making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Chairman’s message

A video message from Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Chairman of the Governing Board of SDM-IMD, Mysuru, was presented during the ceremony. In his message, he shared his thoughts and offered guidance to the graduating students as they embark on their professional journeys.

Dr. (Lt. Col.) S.N. Prasad, Director of the Institute, presented the Annual Report, highlighting the institution’s key activities and achievements for the academic year 2025-26.

Gold Medallists

A total of 230 students from PGDM batch of 2024-26 were awarded their degrees during the ceremony. Gold Medals were conferred upon students who excelled in their respective areas of specialisation by chief guest Dr. Rajendra Srivastava.

Ananya Prakash (Finance), Smriti S. Anand (Human Resources Management), Javeriya Tabassum (Marketing & Operations) and Amith M. Kamath (Systems) received gold medals for their outstanding academic performance.

In addition, two prestigious awards — Chairman’s Gold Medal for overall academic excellence and Ankur Gupta Memorial Gold Medal for overall best performance — were presented to Javeriya Tabassum and Amith M. Kamath, respectively.

The convocation was attended by members of the Governing Board, students, parents, faculty and staff of SDM-IMD.